Origin
Elk Grove, CA
Late night in Elk Grove on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elk Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 24m
Distance
396.2 mi
638 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$91
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 14m
★
6 AM
7h 24m
8 AM
7h 45m
10 AM
7h 31m
12 PM
7h 29m
3 PM
7h 32m
5 PM
7h 44m
8 PM
7h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elk Grove, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Long Beach, CA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Elk Grove, CA to Long Beach, CA is 396.2 miles and takes about 7h 24m via Westside Freeway, with a fuel budget near $91 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route primarily traverses California's Central Valley before heading south towards Southern California. Given its predominantly highway profile and single-day recommendation, it's a straightforward trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll be on major freeways for nearly the entire duration, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these two points in the Pacific Coast region.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.1 miles from Elk Grove, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 39m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Westside Freeway | 250.2 mi | 4h 28m |
| I 5 Truck | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| South Sacramento Freeway | 29.7 mi | 34m |
| I 405 Truck | 23 mi | 26m |
| San Diego Freeway | 18 mi | 20m |
| Golden State Freeway | 4.1 mi | 4m |
| Crosstown Freeway | 2.4 mi | 2m |
| Long Beach Freeway | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Westside Freeway
— 250.2 mi, about 4h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elk Grove, CA and Long Beach, CA.
1
Start on Elk Grove Florin Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Elk Grove Florin Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto East Stockton Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East Stockton Boulevard
Use the left / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto E2
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Grant Line Road
4
Continue on E2
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Kammerer Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
6
Merge onto CA 99
30 mi
·
34 min
·
South Sacramento Freeway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward CA 4
8
Merge onto CA 4
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Crosstown Freeway
9
Take the exit onto CA 4
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
CA 4
Toward I 5: Sacramento
10
Keep slight left at fork onto CA 4
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
CA 4
Toward I 5 South
11
Merge onto I 5; CA 4
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Westside Freeway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
0.8 mi
·
48 sec
·
Westside Freeway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
237 mi
·
4 hr 13 min
·
Westside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
58 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
I 5 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5
4.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Golden State Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
0.3 mi
·
17 sec
·
I 5 Truck
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405 Truck
23 mi
·
26 min
·
I 405 Truck
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 405
18 mi
·
20 min
·
San Diego Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
377 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
Use the slight right lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
this road
Exit 32B
Toward I 710 South: Long Beach
21
Merge onto I 710
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Long Beach Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 710
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
Seaside Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
24
Continue on Shoreline Drive
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Shoreline Drive
25
Turn left onto South Chestnut Place
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Chestnut Place
Use the left / uturn lanes.
26
Turn right onto West Ocean Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Ocean Boulevard
27
Continue on East Ocean Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Ocean Boulevard
Use the left lane.
28
Arrive at destination
East Ocean Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to leave Elk Grove early in the morning to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Southern California. With two recommended stops, you can break up the 396.2 miles into manageable segments. Consider your first stop around the halfway point to refuel and stretch. Given that you'll spend most of your time on the I-5 Truck and Westside Freeway, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can sometimes be spaced out on these longer freeway stretches. The fuel cost estimate is around $91, so budget accordingly.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.1 miles from Elk Grove, CA, or about 3h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 250.2 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 87 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 3h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Long Beach, CA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk Grove, CA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elk Grove, CA
This is one driving day of about 396.2 miles and 7h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Elk Grove, CA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Westside Freeway for about 250.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
198 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 198.1 miles from Elk Grove, CA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Westside Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 250.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 393.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
East Stockton Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto East Stockton Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
I 5 / Westside Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 5 / Westside Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
286.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 15m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
349.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 26m in
|
I 5 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto I 5 Truck toward I 405 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 158
Toward I 405 South
7
393.8 mi into trip
|
~7h 18m in
Take the exit toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center, Aquarium
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward Downtown Long Beach, Convention Center,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$91.06 one way
$182.13 round trip
$5.84/gal
25.4 MPG avg
139 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $6.02 | $93.84 | $187.68 |
| premium | $6.18 | $96.35 | $192.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $87.48 | $174.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$91
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$116–$141
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.60 | $19.02 |
| Efficient EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.67 | $15.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 158.5 | 1 | $55.47 | $25.36 |
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Long Beach, CA
Late night in Long Beach on Tuesday
Local time
3:19 AM
PDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 24m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 98% highway, meaning you'll be on major freeways for almost the entire 396.2-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on the Westside Freeway is 250.2 miles, so expect long periods of high-speed cruising. You'll encounter dense urban merging as you approach your destination in Long Beach. The remaining 2% of the route will be on surface streets as you enter and exit the freeway system.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 250.2 mi on Westside Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Westside Freeway and I 5 Truck. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near East Stockton Boulevard.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 396.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (East Stockton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Elk Grove, CA
Full guide →Founded 1850
Elk Grove is a city of 176,000 people (2020) in Sacramento County in California. Elk Grove has many wineries, wine cellars, and vineyards.
Arriving in Long Beach, CA
Full guide →Founded 1888
Long Beach is a large port city in Los Angeles County in Southern California. Long Beach has some nice people-gathering amenities and genuine tourist attractions, such as a world-class aquarium and the Queen Mary floating museum/hotel. Special events are also held in the city like the annual Long Beach Grand Prix (a premier racing event held on city streets) and the annual Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride event. When compared to other areas like Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and West L.A., Long Beach may not always be at the top of someone's tourist visit to the Los Angeles area, but the city draws its fair share of visitors and has proven it can definitely hold its own.
Top landmarks
- • RMS Queen Mary — retired British ocean liner
- • Terminal Island — island in Los Angeles County, California, United States
- • Aquarium of the Pacific — public aquarium in Long Beach, California
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 24m. Total distance: 396.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 24m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 250.2 miles on Westside Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Long Beach, CA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (East Stockton Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 50.3 miles (I 5 / Westside Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 286.9 miles (I 5 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Long Beach, CA before the return drive.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Long Beach, CA
More trips to Long Beach, CA
Explore more options from Elk Grove, CA or browse trips ending in Long Beach, CA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse CA road trips.